Cultivating right responses

Annie just sat there, staring at the email that had just come through her inbox. She felt nothing. What is there to feel? How do you begin to feel?

It was barely three days now since she returned from the hospital with the news of her medical condition. How could this be happening to her? She is too young to experience this.

Initially it started with light casual pains, and she became easily tired. Maybe she was undergoing stress, she thought. After all, she had just resumed her new job in a mega-city. Her job responsibilities demanded long regular working hours and occasional overtimes. She was not particularly bothered as she loved her job.

Maybe she should slow down a bit. She cut down on overtimes and decided to take time to rest instead. Things got better.

But then the pains resumed and this time, became very sore. She also started to observe a tiny swelling around her left knee. That was when she decided to go for a medical check-up. Series of tests followed that visit, and a biopsy finally confirmed she had osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

And now, Mark, her elder brother, had just sent her an email asking how she felt.

Sometimes, life does not seem fair. Things do not always go according to plan.

Job 14:1 affirms that man, who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.

We constantly must deal with unexpected challenges, but a right response and a right attitude could help us work through and stay on top of our challenges.

Telling God exactly how we feel might be a good first step because He sure understands and deeply cares about us. “But when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them” (2 Chronicles 15:4).

Trusting God helps to transfer the fears, worries, anxieties, and uncertainties we feel over to Him. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in YOU (Psalm 56:3). The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7).

In God, we find a safe place to rest, pause, and be comforted. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble (Psalms 9:9).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation… (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

The word of God brings relief, comfort, and strength. It should be our go-to Book for surviving tough challenging times.